Adjustable bearing



May 12, 1925.

F. BRICKIE ADJUSTABLE BEARING Filed Dec. 1 1923 WWW ZWWKER/G/f/E,

, circumferentially movable ments with respect to the axiallymovable Patented May 12, 1925.

1,537,655- P E T; F R a,

FRANK BRICKIE, or SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA;- r

.AnJUsTABLE BEARING. I

Application filed December 18, 1923, Serial No. 681,400.

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK BRICKIE, a

citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Bearings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference, in general terms, to improvements in adjustable bearings of the type wherein adjustment is affected through the instrumentality of multiple, coactive wedging units disposed to lie and be actuated in relatively different planes whereby to prevent slippage and compensate for undue stress and strain exerted by widely varying directions of thrust; and more particularly it is my purpose to provide a bearing assembly which is primarily adapted for use in mounting the side-rods of locomotives.

In order to effectually accomplish the purposes for which my invention is designed I employ a plurality of wedge blocks which I are disposed to be actuated by a force exerted axially of a rotatably supported object, and said axial force-I supply byother wedging elements disposed to be moved by a force exerted circumferentially of such rotatably supported object. Mani festly therefore any force which would tend to loosen the wedge blocks would be effectually resisted by the circumferentially movable wedging elements, and the action of such wedging blocks will be in the nature of the action of a micrometer-rotational movement translated into an axial or longitudinal adjustmentthereby affording a finer and more accurate adjustment of thebrasses forming a part-of'my bearing assembly.

Furthermore, I have provided means for facilitating the removal of the wedge blocks employed in my assembly, and means for locking the parts of the assembly in an adjusted position whereby to afiord a positive simple and effective bearing which permits of adjustment or removal ofbearing brasses .v in a few moments whereas heretofore ad-' justment or removal of worn sidesrod brasses has necessitated the laying upofa locomo-' tive for fromone to two days.

To these and other ends, my invention consists in the construction, combination resented by way of example in the and arrangement of parts described herein-1' after and pointed out in the claims.

- One embodiment of my invention is'repaccom panying drawings, wherein Q Figure 1 a is a transverse'secti through my bearing assembly Figure 2-is a vertical section; v

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the female element of my circumferential 1 we'dging unit;" 1 is Figure 4: is a side elevation of the male element of my circumferential wedging unit,- Figure 5 is a plan View; of, the wedge element shown in FigureBg Figure 6 is a planview of the wedge element shown in Figure 45;" 1 l Figure 7 is a section taken through the male element shown inFigures4 and 6;

, Figure 8 is a view ,illustrativeof 'one of the axial wedge blocks, ;and V I I p a '60" on taken Figure 9 is a sectional view throughtl 'e bushing member of my'fdevice," and shows the lugs which. iitbetwee u adjacent axial wedging' blocks to prevent turning of the same.

In the drawings wherein like "characters a of. reference designate: like or similar parts throughout the several'views;

The numeral designates a portion 6r, Y

the side-rod of a locomotive, and (2)i "thef pin. The sleeve portion .(3) of the side rod is provided with a cylindrical bashing'fl (4 springs (l0) function to yieldably support the unit (1'1); The female wedge unit 11)v is formed with an annular base 1(12) .wliich is flanged as at (13);; and risingfrom ithe' base are a plurality of wedging members or teeth (14) The flange (13); engages in grooves (15) formed' .in a plfuralit'y, of" arcuate. wedge blocks I (1 6 which are mounted atta space apart anially of the pin (2), and engaging the bushing (4), and a plurality of arcuate brasses (17 The brasses are the friction resisting elements of 'my bearing. Manifestly'the'n, the pressure exerted by the brasses (17) upon the pin (2) may be regulated-by adjusting the wedge blocks (16) with respect to the bushing L), and each brass (17) is provided with lugs (18) which extendbetween the respective,

wedge blocks to prevent relative rotational movement. The pins (9),, function also to prevent rotational movement of the female member (11),, v

Mounted for movement upon the land (6) in a direction circumferential to the pin (2), is a male wedging unit (19) which is formed with a.base1( 20) and-wedging members or teeth (21) which are adapted toride upon the teeth (14) of the unit (11). Attention isherecall'ed to the fact that the teeth (1 1) I movement of the unit. (11), against the pressure exerted springs (10), due to the wedging efi'ectjof the teeth (14 and (21).

with the wedge blocks (16) throughithe in the But the unit (11) is operatively associated mediumof the flan e (13) which engages roove (15)m the blocks, therefore the wedge blocks will beforced in to take up whatever looseness or slack there may be loetvs'reen the brasses (17) and the pin (2). Furthermore, circumferential movement in theoppos'ite direction of the unit (19) .will relieve pressure upon the unit (11) which in'fturn'lwill be forced out by the springs t (10) to withdraw the-wedgeblocks (16).

The ring (22) is preferably held in place by screws.v (not: shown) extending through Open ng .(23') therein" so that it may be readily removed todisassemble the bearing for the. purpose ofre lacing worn brasses; and inorder to faci itate turning of the unit (19) to adjust the brasses suitable notches (24) are, provided therein which are adapted to receive the teeth of: a suitable wrench In order to prevent creeping of the unit (19):,I have provided set screws (25); which extend, through suitable opening's'fin the body of the rod to bear there-- a n v v- I j r While itvis believed that the operation of my invention has been made apparent in the foregoing description, it ishere' desired to emphasize the fact that the relative arrangement of the separate parts of the bearing permits .of quick dismounting of worn brasses', and accurate adjustment ofserviceable brasses to take up such slack as may be indicated, thereby affording an exceptionally desirable bearing assembly for rapidly rotating parts under great strain and pressing service conditions.

While in the foregoing there has been illustrated and described such combination and arrangement of elements as constitute the preferred embodiment of'my invention, it is nevertheless desired to emphasize the fact that my inventive concept is capable of wide. and diverse application, to wit, any place where an improved bearing assembly is required, and therefore interpretation of the invention should only be conclusive when made in the light of the subjeinedclaims.

Having described my inventionandits objects with such attention to detail as will thoroughly acquaint one skilled in the art with its construction and claim.: j t

adjustable bearing assembly com-. prising bearing brasses and,- a wedge shaped bushing, 4 mounted between the Masses and bushing. and movable in a direction defined by their longitudinal axes, a plurality of, rotatable wedging members formed with interengaging teeth and disposed in a plane at right angles to the blocks and oper'ablethere-upon to move the blocks whereby to adjust the position of the same between the: brasses and bushing for the purpose defined. V

2., An adjustable bearing assembly com prising; bearing brassesand a wedge shaped bushing, a plurality of wedge blocks mounted between the .b-r'asses and bushing and movable in a direction defined by their advantages, I

a plurality of wedge blockslongitudinal axes, a, plurality of annular rotatable wedging members formedv with interen gaging teeth and disposed in a plane at right angles to the blocks, oneyof said wedging members being operatively connected' with said blocks to adjiust the posi-;

tions of the same between the brasses' and bushing, aretaining ring for holding the wedging members in place and adjustable locking, members for holding the wedging members in a predetermined position. 4

3. The combination in a machine element formed with an openingfor-receivinga;

rotating member and provided with wear resisting brasses, the walls of the opening being formed with plural annular steps, of a wedge shaped bushing member carried in the opening, a plurality of annular wedging members seatable respectively on said steps,

and wedge blocks. between the brasses and bushing, said wedging members being operatively associated with said wedge blocks for adjusting the positions of the same-be,- tween the brasses and the bushing. f

4. An adjustable bearing assembly comprising interengaging toothed annular Wedging members, one of said members being mounted for rotatable movement With respect to the other, spring means for holding one of said members against the other, Wedge blocks each formed With recesses, one of said members being provided with an annular flange seateble in the recesses of the Wedge ing mounted for movement in one direction only With respect to the bushing for the purpose defined.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature hereunto.

FRANK BRICKIE.

I blocks, a bushing, and said Wedge blocks bei 

